Stereotype-plate-casting machine.



APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

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STERBOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 51111.14, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

.---...JMTM MHH H. LANG.

STBRBOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1909.

PatentedA Jan. 11, 1910.

HUBERT LANG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STEREOTYPE-PLATE-CASTING MACHINE.

casarse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.,

Application filed January 14, 1909. Serial No. 472,298.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, HUBERT LANG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StereotypeFlate-Casting Machines', of which/ the followingis a specification, reference being had to the acoompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machinery for casting stereotype plates, and its principal object is to provide new and improved automatic mechanism for operating the members of the casting box during the casting of the plate. To that end l have provided new and improved power-driven mechanism, which being set in motion by the operator will bring the two members of the stereotype plate casting box-known generally as the drag and plunger-into operative relation with one ano-ther, will lock them in position, open the valve permitting metal to flow from the furnace into the mold, operate the valve when the mold is full to cut o the plate from the metal supply, will unlock the members, bring the movable member, which is usually the drag, into position from which the casting can be removed, and then automatically stop until again set in molock the parts together.

tionfor a new plate.

My further object is to improve stereotype plate casting mechanism of the character described in sundry details hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top or plan view with they furnace and connecting spout/removed; Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged detail, being a section'orrfline 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, being a view of the end of the driving mechanism seen from the right. in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, being a view of the rod which operates the drag, shown as broken away, and a portion of the rock-shaft mechanism which Fig. t is a detail, being a section on line 6 6 or Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail, being a section on line 7 7 ot Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings. 6 indicates a base, on which is mounted the fixed portion 'T of the casting-box, which is preferably, of course, the plunger, as is shown in the drawings.

9 indicates a bar, which passes through the lunger 7 from side to side through openings 10 and is provided at each end with studs 11 circular in section. The openings 10 in the bottom of the plunger 7 are made somewhat larger longitudinally of the base than the bar 9 in order to permit a limited motion of said bar therein longituinafter described.

12 indicates the movable member or drag of the casting box, which by means of a rack 13 mounted on brackets 14 secured to the plunger 12 cotiperating with a set of rackbars 15 arranged in a curve may be rocked into position against the plunger in the usual manner, the drag being provided with sockets 16 which engage the studs 11 upon each side of the plunger 7 when the members are in casting position.

So tar as my present invention is concerned, the plunger 7 and drag 12 may be of any well-known form and description. It is enough, therefore, to say that the drag is adapted to hold the usual matrix and that the plunger 7 and drag 12 are adapted when brought together to form between the convex surface of the plunger and the concave surface of the drag on which the matrix is supported a mold ot suitable size and shape for casting the usual curved stereotype plate.

1T indicates a furnace or melting pot, which is mounted in a convenient position adjacent to the plunger and is provided with a discharge spout 18 which opens into aA suitf able metal passage 19 in the top of the plunger leading from its rear downward and outward to the vconvex surface upon which it opens to aord a passage of the molten metal from the furnace into the top of the mold formed between the two members of the casting box when in operative relation to cach other.

Q0 indicates a curved cut-oft valve, or knife as it is usually called, which is mounted in the usual manner upon the convex surface ot the drag `at the top ot' the casting chamber formed when the two members are brought together and operates when raised or lowered to o en or close the passage of the molten meta out of the discharge spout 19 so as to permit the metal to iiow into the i mold and to sever the metal behind it from l the cast plate when the mold is full.

dinally of the base G for purposes l1ere' The members of the casting-box are prefa peripheral cam groove 43. The groove 43 erably kept cold during the casting by water, i is parallel with the sides of'the disk 42 dur- K or in any other approved manner, which g ing a greater part of its surface, as is best forming no part of'my present lnventlon I l shown 1n Flgs. 1 and 2.

. have not shown in order not to encumber the drawings with unnecessary figures. The,

discharge spouts 18 and 19 are kept hot in any well-known and approved way, which for the same reason I have not shown, so that the metal in them may be kept constantly in a molten condition. These details form no partof my present invention and are well known and understood, and I believe it is, therefore, unnecessary to encumber the drawings by illustrations thereof.

The knife 20 is operated automatically in the manner hereinafter described. It is enough at present to say that when the members are brought together in the manner hereinafter described it is lifted to permit the fiow of metal into the plate chamber, and when said chamber is full to close the opening so as*l to sever the cast plate from the metal behind it.

21 indicates a bed-plate, upon which i mounted an electric motor 22 which may be of any well -known kind or description. The motor is operated by means of .a switch 23 on the bed-plate 6 (see Fig. y1) which is Wired to the motor and the source of supply in any well-known and approved manner (not shown), and the switch operates when thrown in one direction or the other, as hereinafter described, to control the motor in any well-known way so as to startv or stop the same.

24 indicates a shaft, which isjournaled in suitable bearings 25 on the bed-plate 21.

26 indicates a pulley, which is connected by a belt 27 with the driving pulley 28 of `the motor.

29indicates a second shaft journaled in bearings 30-30 on the bed-plate 2'1.

31.*indicates a clutch-member, which is keyed, or otherwise secured, to the shaft 29. 32 indicates a clutch-member, which is` feathered on the inner end of the shaft 24 and is provided with-a hub;33 having a peripheral groove 34.

35 indicates. a worm fixed to the shaft 24 between the bearings/25.

` 36 indicates a gear, which is journaled in suitablev bearings, as 37, below the worm 35 and meshes therewith so that when the shaft 24 is driven the gear 36 is driven by the worm 35.

38 indicates a beveled gear, which is secured to the end of the shaft on which the gear 36 i mounted and which meshes with a bevelecf" gear 39 keyed, or otherwise secured, to the outer end 'of a shaft 40 journaled iu suitable bearings 41;;supported on the-bed 21.

44 indicates a lever, which is pivoted at its middle upon a bracket 45 supported above the bed-plate 21. One end of the lever 44 is provided withla roller 46', which is engaged by the cam groove 43 and the other end with a roller 47 which 'engages the peripheral groove 34 of the'hub 33.

It will be obvious that as the shaft 40 is operated through the'medium of the worm 35, gear 36 and beveled gears v38--39, the camv groove 43, when the roller 46 reaches the cam portion thereof,wi1l throw -the clutch-members 31-32 into engagementso as to drive the shaft. 29. -When the roller lso 46 passes out of the cam portion of the cam 4groove 43 into that portion of the groove which is parallel withvthesides, the clutchmembers will be thrown apart, stopping the .59will be rotated by the action of the worm .4.8 and gear 49.-k

52 indicates a disk or `.closed cam upon whose inner surface is cut a cam groove 53. The greaterportion 54 of this cam groove 53 is concentric with the axis ofthe disk,

and the' other portion 55 turns quite sharply inward so as to approach the center of the disk, as is best shown in Fig.' 1. 56 indicates a sec'ond disk or closedcam keyed upon the'shaft 50 and provided upon its outer surface with a cam groove 57 which is of the same shape as the cam groove 53 on i the closed cam 52. These closed cams are so arranged as to have tlecam portions of their grooves ninety degrees apartso as to actV a quarter of a. revolution after one another.

58 indicates a rod, one end= of which is provided with -a'fork 59 which embraces the bearing 51 outside of the disk 56 so as to slide thereon.

60 indicates a roller on the inner side of the rod 58 which engages the cam -groove 57. The other end of the rod 59 passing between guide rollers 61--62 mounted 1n a suitable bearing upon the base 6 carries near its extreme end a rack 63; best shown in Big. 5. 1

It will be readily understood that when 42 indicates a disk,ywhich is provided with the shaft 50 is rotated the rod 58 will be moved longitudinally of itself, the forks sliding on the -shaft 50 and its other end moving between the guide rollers.

64 indicates a rock-shaft, which is journaled inl the base 6 and is provided at its central portion underlying and in registry with the rack 6 3 with a segmental gear 65 which meshes with the rack 63 whereby when vthe shaft 58 is moved longitudinally of itself secured to it a segmental gear or racl-seetion I 69 in registry with and wearing into the seg- `mental gear or rack-section 66 whereby when the rock-shaft 64 is rocked, as above described, the rock-shaft 6T will be also rocked. 70 indicates arms, which are secured by suitable collars 71 to the rock-shaft 67.

72 indicates a link, which is pivotally connected at its lower end with the arms 70 and at its upper end with the under side of the drag 12. y

rl'he parts are so adjusted that when the rod 58 is moved by the cam 57 outwardthat is to say, toward the left in F ig. 1- the arms 70 will be moved upward, rocking the casting bopt on the rack 13 and rack-bars 15 into a vertical position against the plunger 7 with the sockets 16 engaging the studs 11 at the base yof the lunger.

73 indicates a ro whose lower end is pro vided with a fork 74 which rides the shaft 50 just inside the cam 52 and is provided above the fork/ with a roller 76 which moves in the cam groove 54. Near the upper end of the rod 73 is a rack 77 which engages a rack segment T8 keyed, or otherwise secured, to. a

shaft 7 9 mounted in suitable bearings on the back of the upright 7 of the casting box.

80 indicates a roller. which is journaled upon a bracket 8l on the back of the casting box. rthe roller 80 engages the side of the bar 73 opposite that upon which the rack. 77

is placed so as to form a bearing between which and the rack segment the bar slides.

82 indicates a roller, which is journaled in the upper end of t-he arm 73.

83 indicates plates, which are keyed to one end of the shaft 79. Each of the plates 83 has upon its inner surface a cam flange t 84. The cam flanges 84are adapted to en- 'age rollers 85 on the drag 12 when the Same 1s brought into vertical or casting position so as to lock the members of the casting box together at the top in the manner hereinafter described.

86 indicates a rock-shaft journaled'on the end of the bed-plate 6 and provided with arms pivotally connected at their lower ends with the arms 87 on the rock-shaft 86 and 'at their supper ends with the plates 83 whereby when the shaft 79 is rocked, as above described, the rock-shaft 86 will be simultaneously rocked. 89 indicates eecentrics on the ends of the shaft 86, which are connected by links 90 with the ends of the crossbar 9 whereby when the rock-shaft 86 is rotated the 'crossbar is moved in the slots 10 a limited distance longitudinally at the base 6.

l 88 indicates connecting rods, Vwhich are tive relation to theplunger 7 so thatI the socket 16 is engaged on the ends of the bar 9 a movement of the bar 9 toward ythe back of the plunger-that is, to the right in Fig. i 1*will, of course, draw with it the lower end of the drag, and this cooperating with E i l l l l i l member of the drag last above described will `lock the drag firmly against the plunger. l The method of operation, however, will be l described later more in detail.

91 (best shown in Fig. 2) indicates a collar, which is rotatably mounted on the rockshaft 86 and is provided with two arms 92-93.

94 indicates a connecting rod or link whose lower end is pivotally connected with the end of the arm 93 and which extending upwardris provided with a slot 95 at its upper end and with an eccentric 96 which is below the slot 95.v i

97 indicates a rock-shaft., which is journaled in suitable bearings 98 on the top of the plunger.

99 indicates a collar, which is secured to the rock-shaft 97 and carries an arm 100, the outer end of which is provided with a pin 101 which engages the slot 95 in the connecting rod 94. 102 indicates an arm, which is secured to the collar 99. 103 indicates an arm, which is secured to the other end of the l rock-shaft 97 by a suitable collar 104. As is l best shown in F ig. 1, the arms 10Q-103 are l provided with forks 102a--103- at their ends which carry a crossbar 105.

106 indicates links, which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the erossbar i 105 and at their lower ends to suitable lugs 107 which are secured to the slice-bar or valve 20.

108 indicates a rock-shaft, which is jouraed in suitable bearings on the bed-plate 21. 109 indicates an arm on said roch-shaft 108 which lies close to the outer face of the worm gear 36 and is adapted as said worm gear rotates to be engaged by a pin 110 on theouter surface of worin gear 36, in. the manner hereinafter described, so as to rock the shaft 108.

111 indicates an arm depending downward from the recit-shaft 108.

Vhen the drag 12 is brought into operat the rocking movement applied to vthe upper 112 indicates a connecting rod 'whichy isl pivotally connected at one end with the arm 111 on the rock-shaft 108 and vat the other end to the frame 92 on the collar 91.

, ,When the 4rock-shaft 108 isrocked in the manner hereinafter described bythe engagement of the pin 110 on the wormgear 36 so as to throw the connecting rod 94 upward,

I as soon as the bottom of lthe slot 95 comes in contact with the pi-n 101 the arm 100 of the rock-shaft 97 will be forced upward and the arms 102 downward, thus moving downward the knife or valve across the discharge orifice through which the metal is discharged into the mold. This operation also will be further described hereinafter.

113 indicates a rock-shaft, which is journaled in the bed-plate 6 of the machine'near with the switch 23, and the switch is so arranged that when the treadle 115.` is depressed the switch is moved so as to turn o the electric current tothe motor 22.

118 indicates a bell-crank lever, which is pivoted upon the base-,plate 6 and is provided with arms 119-120. The arm 119 is connected by means of a link 121 with the switch 23.

122 indicates a pin on the outer end of the shaft 64 which is adapted when said shaft is rocked to bring the drag 12 back into its position to be brought in contact with the end of the arm 120 and throw the switch to cut o' the current from the motor.l

123 indicates an arm, which is pivotally mounted upon the arm 100 of the rock-shaft 97, and de ends downward therefrom behind' the' p unger and is provided with a hook 124 at its lower end which is'adapted to be engaged by the roller 82 on the upper end of the rod 73 when the same is moved to near the limit of its downward motion.

125 indicates a pin on the arm 123, which is adaptedlto be engaged by tire cam 96 on the arm 94 whenl the same moves upward so as to rock the arm 123 backward and free the hook from the roller 82-'-all in the manner hereinafter f described.

The operation of lthe above-described mechanism is as followsg/The parts being in the position shown iny the several figures, the machine isr'eadv to be set in operation. The matrix having en prepared and placed in the drag l in the usualY manner, the foottreadle 115` is depressed, moving the upper arm of they switch. 23 to the left in Fig. 1

i and turning the current on to the motor,

which-thereupon is set in motion. It will v that when the parts are in this D0- sit-ion, ,als shown in the drawings, the roller 601cm the operating bar 58 is at the central vtion 54 of the part` ofthe :cam portion of the cam groove 57 on vthe cam disk 56 and ready upon the 'rotation of the shaft 50 to be moved forward; the yclutch members 31 and 32 are in engagement, the roller 46 on the lever 44 being The shaft' 24 being rotated by the motor through the belt 27, the shaft 29 is rotated as long as the clutch members are in engagement, "and through the medium of the worm 48 and Ithe worm gear 49V the shaft 50 is rotated causing the cam groove 57 to throw the operating rod 58 to the left in Fig. 1. By means of the rack 63 and' rack vsegmentl 05 the rock-shaft 64 is rotated, and by means of the engagement of the rack segment 66 on the rock-shaft 64 and the racksegment 69 on the rock-shaft 67 the arms 70 are moved up,-thus through the medium of the connecting rod 72 swinging the drag on its bearings into operative position against the plunger 7, the sockets 16 engaging theernds of the bar 9. As this .movement is completed the roller 60 on the operating bar 58- reaches the circular portion of the cam, and the drag and plunger are thus held in operative relation to one another as long as the roller travels inthe circular portion of said cam. As the cams 52 and 56 are set, ashas been above described, ninety degrees or a: quarter of a revolution apart, as the operating bar 58 has completed its movement to the left the disk 53 hasbeen rotated through a quarter of its. revolution-so as to bring the cam porl roove 53 into operation with the roller 6. The revolution continuing, the Icam 'portion 54 of the groove 53 operates by engagin the roller 76 on the rod 73 to pull the ro 73 downward, which through the medium of the rack 77 and rack segment 78 rock the rock-sh-aft 79 and move the cam 83 upward tothe left. This movement of the plate 83 through the link or connecting rod 88 rocks the shaft 86 while .the cam Harige 84 engages the roller 85 on the drag 12. The rockingof the rock-shaft 86 through the medium if the eccentric 89 pulls back the bar 9, which, engaging with the socket16, locks the lowerv end of the drag against the plunger; whilevat the same time the flange cam 84 engaging the roller 85 locks -the lupper portion of the drag,

against the plunger, and the parts thus locked firmly together are ready for the casting of the plate.

- As the parts are locked closely together, the roller 82.' on the upper end of the connecting rod 73 is brought into contact with `the hook 124 on the arm 123, thus pulling in the cam portion of thegroove 43. f

downthe arm 120 of the rock-shaft 97,

lifting t'he arms 102103 and rlifting the slice-bar or valve 20 so as to open the dis.-v

charge passage from the furnace" into the casting box, and the metal dowing from ,rse

clutch members 31-32 have been separated causing the stoppage of the yfurther rotation of the shaft 29 until the cam portion of the groove 43 again reaches the roller 46, and thus stopping the motion of all the parts so far described. The shaft 24 being, of course continuously rotated by the belt 26, the wrrm gear 36 is rotated by the worm 35 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and the movement is so timed that by the time the casting chamber` is run full of metal, or very "shortly thereafter, the pin 110 is brought into Contact with the arm 109, rocking the shaft 108, moving the link 11-2 to the left in Figs. 1' and 2, which rocks the collar 91 and lifts the rod 94; The cam 96 on the rod 94 is thus brought into contact with the pin 125 on the swinging arm 123 rocking it outward and freeing the hook 124 from engagement with theroller 82. As the upward motion of thejconnecting rod 94 continues the bottom ofthe slot 95 engages the pin 91, the arm 100 is rocked upward. the arms 102103 downward and the slice-bar or valve 20 is moved downward .36 continues to rotate the pin passes oft' from the arm 109 and leaves the knife free to be moved upward again for the next operation.

The various operative parts which are operated through the clutch members 31-32, as above described, all remain stationary until by the rotation of the disk 42 the cam ortion of the groove 43'is again brought into contact with the roller 46 on the arm 44, and the drag .and plunger are held locked together for a sutiicient time for the metal in the cast plate to cool 0E and solidify so that it can be ren1oved,-the respective lengths of the straight portion and the cam portion of the groove 43 being so related to one another and the movement so timed as to accomplish this. This stoppage of the parts, it may be noted, also occurs when the roller 76 is opposite the middle part of the cam portion of the cam groove 55. A Sullicient time, therefore, having elapsed for the plate to cool, the cam portion of the groove 43 again engages the roller 46 on the arm 44, the clutch members 31-32 are thrown into engagement and the rotation of the shaft 29 begins again. The roller 60 on the operating part 58 being about the central portion of the circular portlon ofthe groove 53 and the `roller 7 6. in the middle of the cam groove 55, vthe rotaticm'of the cam disk 52 causes the roller T6 to be carried farther away from the ciiter of the disk and the arm 73 to be moved upward. This upward movement of the arm 7 3 reversing the movement of the rock-shaft 79 above described moves the plate 83 downward and to the.

right and freeing the roller 85 on the drag 12 from the cam flange 83 unlocks the upper portion of the drag. The same movement rocks the shaft 86 in the reverse direction from that above described and lthrough the eccentric 89 moving the bar 9 forward with the socket 16 supported thereon unlccks the lower end of the drag from the plunger. As this movement is completed and the roller 76 enters upon the circular portion of the cam groove 55 the roller 60 enters the cam portion 54 of the cam groove 57 on the cam disk 56 and moving inward toward the center of the disk pulls the drag bar 58 to the right in the figures, rocking the rockshaft 64 in the opposite direction. Through the medium of the rack segments 66-69 the rcckshaft\67 is moved in the reverse direction from its first movement, the arms 70 move downward, and through` the medium of the connecting rod 72 the drag is turned to its horizontal position. As the drag rotates to horizontal position the pin 122 comes in contact with-thearm 120 of vthe vbell-crank lever 118 and moving it down-- ward throws the switch 23 so as toshut oli' the power,whichwmovement of the switch,

of course, raises the foot-treadle -into position to be again depressed through the 'medium of. the connecting link 117. The cast plate `may then be removed in the usual manner and by the depressing of the foottreadle the parts behagain set into motion and the operation repeated.

That which Iclaim asm invention, and; i

desire to secure by Letters atent,is'

1. In a stereotype plate casting machine,

the combination with a drag and plunger adapted to be brought into operative' rela# tion with one another to form a casting box,

and operating mechanism adapted to bring said drag and plunger into and out of operative relation with each other, of a prime mover, connections between said pme mover and said operating mechanism, startw and stop mechanism in said connections, and means operated by said prime `mover to start said start and stopmechanis'm to operate said operating mechanism, to then stop said start and stop mechanism when said drag and plunger are brought into oper-y ative relation with one another and while the 'cast plate is cool-ing, and then again to start said start and stop mechanism.

2. The combination with a stationary plunger, a drag adapted to be swu into operative relatlon against stereotype plate, operating mechanism adapted to move mid drag into'a'nd out ef operative relation with said' plunger, of a Sai si' plunger to form a casting chamber fora i adaptedtwhen set in motion by said prime mover to swing said drag into operative relation with said plunger, and mechanism y`operated by said prime mover to throw oi \the lconnections between it and said operating mechanism after said drag has been movedA into operative relation .with saidl plunger and hold the same in position while the plate is cooled and then automatically throw said connecting mechanism into engagement again with said operating mechanism to move said drag out of operative relation with said plunger.

3. The combination with a stationary plunger, a movable vdrag adapted to be swung into operative relation with said lunger toform a stereotype ycasting chamber between them, said plunger having a passage for molten metal leading into the top of said chamber, a valve' adapted to open and close the opening in'said passage for molten metal, and operating mechanism adapted to move said drag into and out of -operative relation with said plunger, of a prime mover, connecting mechanism between said prime mover and said operating mechanism'land adapted when thrown into engagement with said plunger to successively move said drag into operative rela tion with said plun er and move it out of operative relation 'with said plunger, means operated by said prime mover and adapted to-throw said connecting mechanism out of engagement with said operating mechanism when said drag and lunger are in operative'v relation and ho d the same inoperative relation until the cast plate cools and then automatically throw' said connecting mechanism into operative engagement with said operating mechanism and move said drag out of operative relation with said plunger..

4. Ina stereotype-plate casting machine, the combination with a drag and plun er adapted to be brought into operative re a` tion with one another to form a castin -box and operatin mechanism adapted to ring said drag an plunger into and out of operative relation, of a prime mover, connections between s'aid prime mover and said operating-mechanism,.clutch mechanism in said connecting mechanism adapted when thrown into engagement to operate the same, and

-means operated by said prime mover to throw said clutch mechanism into engagement, throw the same out of engagement when said drag and plunger are brought into operativerelation with one another and while the cast plate is cooling and then throw said clutchl mechanism into engagement ,to bring said drag and plunger out of operative relationy with one another. l

5. In a stereotype-plate casting machine,

the combination with a drag and plun er adapted.to be brought into operative re ation with one another to form a metal chamber between them and havin a metal passage leading into said cham er, operating mechanism adapted to l,bring said drag and plunger into and out of operative relation, locking mechanism adapted to lock said drag and plunger together and unlock the same, and a valve adapted to control said metal passage, of a prime mover, connections between said prime mover and said operating mechanism, connections between said prime mover and said llocking mechanism, connections between said\ prime -mover and said valve-operating mechanism, clutch mechanism inter osed between said prime mover and sai operating and locking mechanism and adapted when engaged to move said locking and unlocking mechanism, and clutch-operating mechanism operated by said prime mover and adapted to throw said clutch members into engagement to bring said drag and plunger together and lock the same, then throw said clutch mechanism out of engagement' and hold said drag and plunger in operative relation while the cast plate is cooling and then throw said clutch members into engagement to unlock said locking mechanism and operate said oper-l ating mechanism to bring the drag and plunger out of operative relation.

6. In a stereotype-plate casting machine having a casting-box consisting of a drag and plunger ada ted when put into operative relation wit each other to form a casting chamber, the combination with operating mechanism adapted to bring said drag and plunger into and out of operative 'relation, ofa' prime mover adapted to drive Said operating mechanism, a clutch interposed between said prime mover and said operating mechanism, and mechanism driven by said prime mover and adapted to throw said clutch into engagement, drive said operating mechanism and brin said drag and plunger into operative relation, then throw said clutcli outof engagement while the cast plate cools and then into engagement again to operate said operating mechanism and move them out of operative relation.

7. In a stereotype-plate casting machine having a-casting-box. consisting of a drag and plungeiadapted when put into operative relation with each other to form a casting chamber, the combination withA operatin mechanism adapted to bring said dragan `plunger into operative relation, lock 'the sanietogether, unlock the same and bring?,

them out of operative relation, of a prime mover adapted to drive said operating mecha-nism, a clutch interposed between said prime mover and said operating mechanism, and mechanism driven by said prime mover andv adapted'to throw said clutch into eniio Cil

gagement, drive said operating mechanism operate said locking mechanism to 'unlock and bring said drag and plunger into oper ative relation and lock the same, then to throw said clutch out of engagement while the cast plate cools and then into engagement again to operate said unlocking and i i i operating mechanism and runlock said drag and plunger and bring them out of operative f relatlon.

8. The combination with a stereotypeber and operating mechanism adapted to bring said drag and plunger into and out of operative relation and locking mechanism adapted to lock said drag and plunger together in operative relation, Vof a prime,

mover. a shaft driven by said prime mover and containing one member of a clutch mechanism, a second Ishaft having thereon the other member of said clutch mechanism, connections between said second shaft and said operating mechanism, connections between said second shaft and said locking mechanism, clutch-operating mechanism driven by said prime mover and adapted to move said clutch members into engagement to operate said operating mechanism and said locking mechanism to bring said drag and plunger into operative relation and lock the same together, then to move said clutch members out. of engagement while the cast plate cools, then to move said clutch members into engagement and operate said locking mechanism to unlock said clutch members and said operating mechanism to move said clutch members out of operative relation.

9. The combination with a stereotypeplate casting-box having a drag and plunger adapted to be brought into operative relation with each other to form a casting chamber and operating mechanism adapted to bring said drag and plunger into and out of operative relation and. locking mechanism adapted to lock said drag and plunger t0- gether in operative relation, of a prime mover, a shaft driven by said prime mover and containing one member of a clutch mechanism, a second shaft having thereon the other member of said clutch mechanism, connections between said second shaft and 'said operating mechanism, connections between suid second shaft and said locking mechanism, clutch-operating mechanism 'driven by said prime mover and adapted to move said clutch members .into engagement to operate said operating mechanism and said locking mechanism to bring said drag and plunger into operative relation and lock the same together, then to move said clutch members'out of engagement while the cast ypfate cools, thenl to move said clutch members into engagement and said clutch members and said operating mechanism to move said clutch members out of operative relation, and mechanism connected with said operating mechanism and adapted when said casting-boxmembers are brought out of operative relationp'to stop said prime mover.

l0. The combination with a stereotypel plate casting-box having a drag and -plunplate casting-box having a drag and plunger adapted to be brought 1nto operatlve relation with each other to form a casting chamger adapted to be brought into operative relation with each other to form a casting chamber and operating mechanism adapted to bring said drag and plunger into and out of operative relation and locking mechanism adapted to lock said drag and plunger together in operativerelation, of a prime mover, a shaft driven by said prime mover and having a clutch member, a second shaft havinga second clutch member, connections between said second shaft and said operating mechanism, connections between said second shaft and said locking mechanism, a cam driven by said prime mover, a shifting lever between said cam and one of said clutch members, said cam and Ishifting lever being adapted when said prime mover is set in motion to first automatically move one of said clutch members into engagement with the other and, move said second shaft. to-

a valve controlling said metal discharge pas-l sage, a swinging drag adapted to be moved into operative relation with said plunger t0 form a casting chamber between them, operating mechanism adapted when set in motion to swing said drag into operative relation with said plunger and lock the same against said plunger, of a prime mover, a shaft driven by said prime mover and carrying a clutch member, a second shaft carrying a second clutch member. connections between said second shaft and said operating and locking mechanism. a shiftingl lever adapted when operated to move said clutch members into and out of engagement, a third shafty driven by said prime mover, an operating cam on said third shaft adapted to engage said shifting lever to first throw said clutch members into engagementand drive said second shaft and thereby operate said operating mechanism to bring said ,drag and plunger into operative relation and lock into operative relation with said plunger to form a casting chamber between them, operating mechanism adapted when set 'in motion to swing said drag into operative relation with said plunger and lock the same against said plunger, of a prime mover, a shaft driven by said prime mover and carrying` a clutch member, a second shaft carrying'a second clutch member, connections between said second shaft and said operating and locking mechanism, a shifting lever adapted when operated to move said clutch members into and out of engagement, a third shaft driven by said prime mover, an operating cam on said third shaft adapted to engage said shifting lever to first throw said clutch members into engagement and drive said second shaftand thereby operate said operating mechanism to bring said drag and plunger into operative relation and lock l the same together, then to throw said clutch members out of engagement until the cast plate cools, then to move said clutch members again into engagement, operate said second shaft and drive said operating mechanism to unlock the said drag and plunger. to move the same out of operative relation, and mechanism connected with said Valve and with said prime mover and adapted to operate said valve to open said metal passage and then close the same.

13. The combination Wit-h an upright plungerhaving a metal discharge passage, a valve controlling said metal discharge passage', a swinging drag adapted to be moved into operative relation with said plunger to form a casting chamber between themfoperating mechanism adapted when set in motion to swing said drag into operative relation with said plunger and lock the same against said plunger, of a prime mover, a shaft driven by said prime mover and carrying a clutch member, asecond'shaft carrying'a second clutch member, connections between said secondl shaft and said operating and llocking mechanism, a .shifting lever adapted when operated to move said clutch members into and out of engagement, a third shaft driven byv said prime mover, an operating cam on said third shaft vadapted to en gage said shifting lever to rst throw said clutch members into engagement and drive said second shaft and thereby operate said operating mechanism to bring said drag and plunger into operative relation and lock the same together, then to throw said clutch members out of engagement until the cast plate cools, then to move said clutch members again into engagement, operate said second shaft and drive said operating mechanism to unlock the said dra g and plunger to move the same out of operative relation, and shut-o mechanism connected with said operating mechanism and adapted when said drag is moved out of operative relation with the plunger to shut off said prime mover.

14. The combination with an upright plunger having a metal discharge passage, a valve controlling said metal discharge passage, a swinging drag adapted to be .moved into operative relation with said plunger to form a casting chamber between them, operating mechanism adapted when'set in motion to swing said drag into operative relation with said plunger and lock the same against said plunger, of a prime mover, ak shaft drivenby said prime mc'er and carrying a clutch member, a second shaftcarrying a second clutch member, connections between said second shaft and said operating and locking mechanism, a shifting lever adapted when operated to move said clutch members intoand o ut of engagement, a third shaft driven by said prime mover, an operating cam on said third shaft adapted to engage said shifting lever to first throw said clutch members into engagement and drive said second shaft and thereby operate said operating mechanism to bring said drag and plunger into operative'relation and lock the same together, then to throw said clutch members out of engagement until the cast plate cools, then to move said clutch members again into engagement, operateY said second shaft and drive said operating mechanism to unlock the said drag and. plunger to move the same out of operative relation, mechanism connected with said valve and with said prime mover and adapted to operoff said prime mover. I.

HUBERT LANG. Witnesses:

C. E. Presman, `W. H. DE Basri. 

